“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” – Jonah 1:1-2
God speaks. This is the truth that is found throughout the Bible. God spoke through a burning bush. God spoke through angels. God spoke through the prophets. God spoke to people in dreams. The story of our faith tells us, over and over, that God does speak.
Perhaps my favorite story about God speaking is in the book of Jonah. This is a story about God interceding on behalf of two nations while speaking through one person. We often lose the plot of Jonah because Jonah runs from his calling and is swallowed by a large fish. It is an exciting and shocking story. It is no surprise that we teach this story so often in children’s Sunday School. There is just enough drama and excitement to make a great story and hold any reader’s attention.
The story is not really about Jonah and the big fish. It is a story of God speaking to God’s people and calling them to a life of mercy and justice. The book of Jonah begins and ends with God speaking to the prophet. In the beginning, Jonah is asked to go to the great city of Nineveh and call them to repentance. God demands they change their ways. Eventually, Jonah does speak in Nineveh, and they change their ways. The book ends with God chastising Jonah and demanding he change his ways as well. After God shows mercy to Nineveh, Jonah gets angry. God asks, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (4:4) Jonah’s refusal to obey God and Jonah’s anger over God’s mercy for Nineveh draws a sharp rebuke from God. It is a quite an exciting book and I encourage you to read it.
The book of Jonah is a reminder to us that God speaks. It is up to us, a people of faith, to listen for the word of God in our life. Sometimes those words come in a clear and audible voice. Sometimes they come through diligent reading of the scripture. Still, other times they come through a small nudging from the Holy Spirit. Regardless of how God speaks, we are called to listen. And when we hear God’s word, we are to respond in faith. We are to trust that what God is asking of us is good because God is good.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
